Paul Finebaum has long been the SEC’s most vocal champion - a guy who rarely misses a chance to remind the college football world that the Southeastern Conference reigns supreme. But in a surprising twist, Finebaum recently threw his support behind a different powerhouse: the Miami Hurricanes.
During an appearance on The Matt Berrie Show, Finebaum made it clear he’s pulling for the Canes this postseason. And his reasoning? Let’s just say it struck a chord with plenty of fans outside South Bend.
“I want Miami to win it all just to shut the Notre Dame fans up,” Finebaum said, without a hint of hesitation.
That one sentence summed up what a lot of Miami fans - and perhaps a fair number of neutral observers - have been feeling ever since the final College Football Playoff rankings dropped. The Hurricanes heard the noise.
They saw the backlash. And they know exactly who’s been the loudest about it: Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish have been vocal about their belief that they deserved a spot in the Playoff over Miami or Texas A&M. Never mind that both the Hurricanes and the Aggies beat Notre Dame earlier in the season - the Irish faithful have clung to the idea that their résumé was stronger.
But here’s the thing: Miami has a chance to settle all of that on the field.
They already took care of Texas A&M in the first round. Next up?
A massive showdown with No. 2 Ohio State in the quarterfinals.
If the Canes can get past the Buckeyes - no small task, given Ohio State’s talent and pedigree - and keep rolling through the bracket, they’ll have a legitimate shot to claim the national title. And if that happens, the noise from South Bend will be hard to hear over the sound of Miami’s celebration.
Now, to be clear, Finebaum didn’t crown the Hurricanes as the eventual champs. This wasn’t a bold prediction - more of a wishful endorsement.
But the fact that one of the SEC’s most diehard defenders is even entertaining the idea of Miami winning it all? That says something about how compelling this Canes run has become.
The next chapter of that story kicks off on New Year’s Eve, when No. 10 Miami faces No.
2 Ohio State in the first quarterfinal matchup of the season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
ET on ESPN, and it’s shaping up to be a must-watch clash between two storied programs with everything on the line.
For Miami, it’s a shot at validation. For Notre Dame, it might be a long night of watching from home.